The Westfield Police Department has released its annual report for 2017 highlighting a year focused on increased transparency, operational efficiency and community engagement.
“Our role in the community is to create a safe and secure environment and do it with professionalism, transparency and compassion,” said Westfield Police Chief Joel Rush. “The steps we are taking, such as assigning body worn cameras to our patrol officers, consolidating our operating systems with other county agencies and emphasizing our community outreach are key ingredients to ensuring Westfield remains a safe community as we grow.”
In 2017, Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) decreased to 572, which is the lowest this number has been since 2010. This statistic is significant as the population of Westfield increased by almost 6,000 people since 2012. UCR is a national statistical account of data on crime in a specific area conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Between 2016 and 2017 Westfield also saw a decrease in battery and theft cases but an increase in robbery.
The report also details the work of the department’s various divisions, notable highlights throughout the year, community outreach efforts and additional year-end statistics.
For further detail and to see the full report, click here.